USDA Update

March 15 - July 15th - Primary Nesting Season for CRP. No practice or management activity allowed.

Aug 1, 2016 - Deadline to request farm reconstitution for 2016.

Aug. 1, 2016 - 2016 ARC-PLC Enrollment Deadline

COOLER WEATHER

The past week saw a change in our weather pattern, on Friday we saw snow and Saturday nights the temps dropped to single digits and Monday temps go back up to the high 70's. It's spring in Eastern Colorado!

FREEZE DAMAGE

With the low temperatures the past weekend; if you are turning in wheat acres with freeze damage or any other cause of loss be certain to report those losses to FSA also. We will revise your acreage report and also have you complete a short form regarding the failed acres.

CASH RENTS AND LEASES SURVEY

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) started contacting farmers and ranchers in February to gather land rental rate information for the Cash Rents and Leases survey. The results of this survey will serve as a valuable decision-making tool for farmers, ranchers and other landowners and will help shape negotiations for 2017 rental agreements. NASS will publish average cash rental rates at national, state and county levels for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland, and pastureland on September 9, 2016.

NASS guarantees confidentiality of all individual information, as required by federal law, regardless of the response method participants choose. NASS will combine the responses with fellow producers nationwide, providing the only accurate and comprehensive estimate of U.S. average rent and lease rates.

MID CONTRACT MANAGEMENT LETTERS

This past week the FSA and NRCS jointly mailed out the Mid Contract Management (MCM) notifications for contracts that were enrolled during CRP Signup #43. Those contracts are now in the mid-term of the 10 year contract and require a MCM to be completed by year 6 which is 2018.

The letter is sent to only the contact person on the contract; it is up to that person to share with the information with others participants on the contract. The letter lists the best recommendation for the CRP land. Be reminded; it is only a recommendation and there are other practices available; however participants must contact the NRCS office if they wish to complete a different practice than the recommended practice. We urge producers to read all the letter and the attachments and if they have questions contact the office.